Markus Lanz gave Friedrich Merz the opportunity to do another proper election campaign for the CDU.
To hear, among other things, praise for the diesel engine and ridicule for the Greens.
Hamburg - Markus Lanz 'talk turned into a long election commercial for Friedrich Merz this Tuesday evening.
In a good mood and well-tanned, the presumably designated Minister of Economic Affairs of the CDU was allowed to present himself from his best side in the ZDF talk show and dominated the show almost continuously.
With the journalist Yasmine M'Barek and the Green Vice-President Jamila Schäfer from Munich, Lanz had put two lesser-known fellow discussants in the group.
"Markus Lanz" - these guests discussed with:
Friedrich Merz (CDU)
- former member of the Bundestag and EU Parliament
Jamila Schäfer (Alliance '90 / The Greens)
- Member of the federal executive committee
Yasmine M'Barek
- Editor (Department X) at "Die Zeit"
Prof. Helga Rübsamen-Schaeff
- chemist, entrepreneur, virologist
"Why weren't you in Berlin at the Trielli?", Lanz asks the first to know from Merz and runs a clip in which CDU supporter Armin Laschet celebrated with loud singing on the Sunday after the TV triumph.
Merz reacts indignantly: “I don't have to stand in Berlin and hold up signs.” He leaves no doubt that this appearance would have been beneath his dignity: “We want to talk about topics tonight and not about currywurst,” he snaps Moderator.
With this appearance in Berlin “not a single vote is moved in Germany”.
Lanz now asks visibly more cautiously where Merz saw the Trielli.
The Sauerland native says he saw it on the sofa at home, and he can usually be found there on Sunday evenings.
Merz kept in contact with his campaign team.
And: He liked the appearance of Chancellor candidate Laschet.
Merz criticizes Laschet's election campaign as being lax: Instead, he would have polarized
Especially with a view to the dull lightning polls of the CDU candidate, Lanz leaves no doubt that he evaluates the performance differently. And also wants to know from Merz: "What mistake did Armin Laschet make?" He accepts criticism of the CDU top candidate: "I would have had a more polarizing election campaign," says Merz. And gives an example of how it could work. When asked about the speed limit, he wouldn't leave everything open, like Laschet, but rather say clearly: "I'm against it!"
The election campaign strategy of the SPD - Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz forward - praises Merz.
In his own opinion, he would also have the antidote ready: “The SPD put its candidate for chancellor forward and hid all the rest of it in the basement,” he railed.
Merz warns that the SPD will send a “parliamentary group that is moving very far to the left”.
Merz strikes later for a bigger blow and finds - almost with relish - that there has never been an SPD candidate with such a large attack surface as Scholz is currently offering.
The incumbent finance minister is a man, according to Merz, “who is involved in three veritable, serious financial scandals”.
“A criminal case against whose state secretary was opened today because of a betrayal of judicial documents.” And which “under normal times he would not have held another day in office”.
Zeit-Online-
Editor M'Barek does not want to leave it like that, the journalist points to the toll scandal in the ranks of the Union, in which Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) with alleged legal violations but also because of wasting at least 500 million euros stand in the center.
Merz replies that criminal proceedings have a completely different quality.
Lanz now also contradicts: "Legally yes, but not politically."
Merz criticizes the nuclear phase-out, warns of a ban on internal combustion engines in 2030
Merz also distributes against the Greens, albeit more subtle. With the question of how to deal with China - the economic power of the future on the one hand, a communist-led regime on the other - Lanz addresses the Green politician Schäfer and quotes top candidate Annalena Baerbock's frequently mentioned quote that she comes from “yes, from international law”. Full lawyer Merz laughs audibly and can not resist ridicule: "At least it does not come from copyright law" - alluding to the plagiarism allegations for Baerbock's book.
The following discussion deals with phasing out nuclear energy and banning internal combustion engines. Merz is critical of both. “We have to manufacture combustion engines in a CO2-neutral manner,” is Merz's stance. He makes it clear again where the focus of the German economy has been for him so far: "We have the best automotive industry in the world, the best combustion engines, the best diesels". If the Greens forbid this from 2030, the top industry will, according to Merz, "become a sheet metal supplier".
Merz fears: “At that very moment, research and investment in improved internal combustion engines will stop”.
But in trucks, ships, airplanes and other machines, electric motors could not hold their own against gasoline engines.
"We have banned too much in this country, we are getting out too much," warns the former Union parliamentary group leader and Merkel opponent.
Merz also relates this to the exit from nuclear energy, which many in the CDU - if you believe Merz - would like to reverse it.
Including him.
Greens: Vice Jamila Schäfer at "Lanz" - Merz doubts energy plans
Green politician Schäfer also has to admit that even in a state like Baden-Württemberg, which has been green for a decade, only eleven wind turbines have been built in this decade. Germany’s energy needs cannot be met with renewables at this rate. Nevertheless, Schäfer wants to promote the development of renewable energy in a forward-looking manner instead of investing money in new, expensive nuclear power plants. Merz counters: "Then we will import even more energy from Poland - which would almost exclusively rely on lignite."
At the end of the broadcast, Lanz takes a look at the current pandemic situation and gives pharmaceutical entrepreneur and professor Helga Ruebsamen-Schaeff the opportunity to advertise the vaccination again.
New studies have shown that protection is already waning in the first few vaccinated.
A well-immunized society also means the end of the corona measures, explains Ruebsamen-Schaeff.
She refers to Denmark, which is already back to normal.
With 74 percent completely vaccinated, there are still 30 patients in the intensive care unit in the country.
However, there is some controversy about so-called booster vaccinations.
Conclusion of the "Markus Lanz" talk
Lots of space for Friedrich Merz, who was able to sell the CDU's attitude well. A little distance from Lanz would not have damaged his credibility. In the end he said goodbye to Merz with the words: “Soon as Minister of Economic Affairs in office and dignity?” Merz: “The largest parliamentary group!” And Lanz: “I'm looking forward to it!” Neutral is different.
